How to make a barbecue with your own hands: tips from experienced craftsmen

On a warm summer day, who doesn’t love the smell of sizzling barbecue? Something about preparing food outside makes our meals even more enjoyable. To add a personalized touch to your outdoor cooking experience and get rid of pre-made grills, building your own barbecue could be the ideal project for you. In this post, seasoned do-it-yourselfers will provide some insightful advice on building a barbecue grill from the ground up.

It’s important to decide what kind of barbecue you want to build before you start building. Do you want the convenience of a gas-powered grill over the simplicity of a charcoal one? Every variety has a unique set of benefits and things to keep in mind. While gas grills offer instant heat control but might not have the same traditional barbecue flavor, charcoal grills give off that classic smoky flavor but need more hands-on maintenance. Regardless of the option you select, knowing your preferences will help you navigate the building process.

After determining the kind of barbecue grill you wish to construct, it’s time to assemble the required parts and equipment. Bricks or concrete blocks for the frame, metal sheets or grates for the cooking surface, and heat-resistant mortar or glue to hold everything together are usually the basic components for a do-it-yourself barbecue grill. In addition, you’ll need safety equipment like goggles and gloves, as well as tools like a trowel, hammer, level, and tape measure. Before beginning, make sure to double-check your list of materials to avoid hurried trips to the hardware store.

Now that you have everything you require, it’s time to put on your work gloves and begin building. Start by deciding on a good spot for your barbecue grill, making sure it has enough ventilation and is not close to any combustible objects. Next, use bricks or concrete blocks to lay a solid foundation, being sure to make it level and stable. The frame and cooking surface of your grill will be supported by this foundation. Take your time with this step because the stability and longevity of your barbecue depend on a solid foundation.

How to choose a barbecue

It is best to first take a piece of paper and a pencil and draw a picture of the barbecue stove as you see it in your head in order to decide what you want to get out of it. It will be simpler to select the best project by looking up its construction plan and the most appropriate project online once you have it on paper. Take into account the following when creating a sketch:

• The style in which you want your barbecue oven. It should correspond to the landscape design of the site, the interior of the veranda or hall where you want to place it.
• The size of the structure. If the stove will be quite massive, it will be necessary to build a reliable deep foundation.
• Try to "fit" the barbecue into the location of the future installation right on the throw.
• You should also think about the shape of the firebox and chimney, as they play an important role in the design of the stove.
• Decide at once whether there will be a roof over the barbecue, how the roof should look like, what style and shape you want to get.
• Whether you need additional elements to the barbecue stove: oven, smoker, cooking stove, built-in cauldron and other devices.
• Whether the building will be lined with finishing materials, and how it should look in the end.
• It is important to consider the design of the fireplace grate, if one is provided.
• Whether there will be nearby cutting tables, a place for firewood, water and a sink, electric lighting will be arranged.

Selecting a model and seeing it at the installation site will be much simpler after responding to these questions and putting your ideas on paper.

Height and dimensions of the construction elements

As soon as the drawing is created, you can immediately place the dimensions that will support the owners’ future growth and ensure that the structure blends in nicely with the composition as a whole.

• The first thing to consider is the height of the location of the roaster, the cooking stove, if provided, as well as the surfaces of the cutting tables – in order to make it convenient to make preparations and grill barbecue or kebabs.
• It is important to calculate the height of the shelves to be built and their number. The shelves should also be made at a height convenient for the owners.
• Next, it is necessary to determine the size of the base of the oven and related buildings. These parameters will depend on the size of the area where you plan to build the barbecue.
• The next dimension to be determined is the height of the chimney to the ceiling (in the case of an internal arrangement) and at what level it should change its shape to a narrower one.
• Another parameter that must be calculated in advance if the barbecue is installed under a ready-made roof is the location of the chimney so that it does not rest on the roof beam. It should be located exactly between the two beams.
• The dimensions of the foundation of the stove must exceed the linear dimensions of the base by 15 – 20 cm in each direction.

Foundation

• To build a lightweight stove, without additional elements, will be enough cemented area, and if it is already there, for example, in the pergola or on the site, you can immediately start laying.
• If the barbecue oven is installed on an unprepared site, t.е . If the barbecue oven is installed on an unprepared site, i.e. "from scratch" on a plot of land allotted for it, a foundation will have to be built.

Approximate foundational layout

• The first thing you need to do when starting to build the foundation is to mark the site.
• The next step is to dig an excavation for the foundation of the stove. It may not be very deep, as the building is not as heavy as a heating and cooking stove. Its depth can vary from 20 to 40 cm, depending on the soil on which the structure is installed.
• Having compacted the bottom of the pit, a sand cushion 10 – 15 cm thick is laid on it. On it is poured a small layer of crushed stone, height 8 – 10 cm.
• The formwork should be installed in such a way that it rises above the soil surface by 10 – 12 cm.
• Next, reinforcement is installed – the diagram shows how to do it correctly.
• The last step is the pouring of concrete mortar, with the proportion of sand and cement 3:1.
• The surface of the foundation should be well leveled, this will determine the slenderness of the walls of the building.

Step-by-step barbecue construction

Simple barbecue variation with a clear roof

This is one of the most basic types of garden barbecues; it can be set up outside, under a pergola, or on a terrace. Its construction does not involve any intricate internal structural interlacing, unlike heating stoves, where maintaining warm air within the building requires a prolonged implementation of a specific plan.

Overall layout and the initial masonry rows

• The first row is laid without openings, with observance of the brick laying pattern.
• From the second to the fourth row, the masonry goes according to the scheme.
• Metal strips are laid on the fourth row, as the next two rows will be continuous.
• Next, three rows are laid according to the scheme, they form shelves under the firebox.

Formwork continuation, starting with the seventh row and going up

• Metal strips should be laid over the shelves again, which will serve as a base for the roaster panel.
• Silicate brick is used for laying out the firebox, as it is heat-resistant and can withstand high temperatures. It is shown in a lighter color on the diagram.

This is the ideal appearance for the firebox.

• The structure of the firebox in the figure shows from the thirteenth to the twenty-first row.
• On the twenty-first row, a metal strip is strengthened, which will serve as a support for the front wall of the beginning chimney.
• The chimney structure is laid out in a special way, each row is moved inward into the structure for a certain distance, gradually narrowing it to the shape of the pipe.
• The chimney is laid out to the height required. If the roof is arranged, the pipe is brought up to it and passes through the hole made outside. Waterproofing is arranged around the chimney.
• A metal umbrella is installed on top of the chimney to prevent rain and dirt from getting inside.

Even a beginner can erect such a model as long as they work carefully and slowly, maintaining constant control over the walls’ evenness and adherence to the organized plan. You can be confident that even if you handle everything by hand, but you must double-check everything to ensure the quality of a master furnace maker!

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Other types of barbecue stove

Some stoves are more complicated than others, and building one of these requires careful consideration because the design of these stoves is more intricate and calls for connecting multiple stove components to a single chimney, water supply, and electrical source.

Magnificent, carefully designed barbecue stove

Consider a model like this, which has every detail considered and is completed with ornamental stone, lending the entire composition a unique look reminiscent of medieval castles.

This is a substantial and sturdy structure that cannot be completed without a foundation because the earth would simply collapse under its weight.

The entire space is neatly laid out, with a spot for guests in addition to a stove that will be protected from the elements. A table and cozy chairs can be set up here so that you can unwind in the shade while taking in the enchanted scents of cooking and burning wood.

The design includes a spot for fuel and water, which is useful for cooking because you frequently need to wash your hands and dishes afterward. Stone cutting surfaces are practical for workpieces and are easily cleaned. Dishwasher shelves with two tiers allow you to keep everything you need for the entire summer on them.

An excellent choice for a terrace or veranda

Built on the terrace is this barbeque oven. This is what makes it convenient—you can access water and a refrigerator where food is kept by opening a window to the kitchen. This stove’s design serves as a decorative accent to the terrace, enhancing the surrounding area with its presence. Although the design is small, a foundation was set up beforehand because it is placed on a wooden floor. Overall, this is a good choice that is situated so that inclement weather won’t ever ruin the festivities.

Incredibly lightweight grill

Another barbecue model that is fairly easy to assemble and doesn’t take much work. For this project, you will need bricks, two slabs for the main surface and the middle shelf, and a back wall to cover the barbecue roaster. If the barbecue is going to be permanently set up in one location, then all of these supplies will be required. This version can be installed in any handy location on the dacha site as long as it is constructed of non-combustible materials, isn’t overly heavy, and accurately replicates the brickwork pattern on its surface.

Masonry on the mortar is not necessary for such a stove.

And this is a very basic version of the barbecue that, if you have all the ingredients, you can assemble in 15 to 30 minutes. It can take on various forms, and if you’d like, you can alter it daily. Since the bricks are just stacked in a specific order, its device won’t require binding mortar.

Anyone is able to create this "work," and the barbecue can either be set up temporarily or permanently.

To build such a barbecue will be needed:

• Bricks, approximately one hundred and twenty pieces.
• Metal pallet and grate of the same size, it will determine the size of the whole structure in terms of area.
• A foundation can be prepared for masonry, and it is not necessary to make a deep excavation for it, as the structure is not very massive, but reinforcement is never unnecessary. But, in principle, such a temporary type of oven can be quickly built on a tamped plot of land.
• On the finished foundation, the bricks are laid with gaps. It will be necessary to lay four to five rows of such masonry. This process is perfectly illustrated in the picture above.
• Next, a metal tray is laid on the bricks, on which the coals will burn, so it must be made of thick metal, at least 3 mm thick.
• Then come two more rows of bricks, also with gaps between them, for oxygen to the coals, so that they burn well and evenly.
• On top of these two rows, a grate is placed, on which the various delicacies will be fried.
• On top of the grate, two more brick rows are made. Bricks in them are laid as tightly as possible to each other, they will serve as a protection from the wind for the frying products.
• If desired, such an oven can be made of pre-prepared brick or stone of a certain shape.

Creating your own barbecue in your backyard can be a fulfilling project that will let you savor delectable grilled meals. Craftspeople with experience can advise you on how to build a barbecue that meets your requirements and tastes.

Selecting the appropriate ingredients is one of the first steps in preparing a barbecue. For durability and safety, it is crucial to choose high-quality materials when using bricks, stones, or metal. Furthermore, take into account the dimensions and style of your barbecue to make sure it suits your outdoor area and cooking needs.

Paying close attention to detail is essential when building your barbecue. To guarantee correct alignment and stability, take your time when measuring and planning each component. In order to maintain consistent cooking, it’s also essential to prevent smoke buildup and guarantee effective airflow.

Don’t be afraid to customize your barbecue in unique ways as you put it together. Adding hooks, shelves, and other accessories can improve convenience and usefulness. Additionally, you can turn your barbecue into a chic focal point in your outdoor space by personalizing it with decorative accents.

Lastly, to ensure that your barbecue lasts a long time, give it regular maintenance after it’s finished. In order to prevent corrosion and grease buildup, clean your barbecue after every use. You should also periodically check it for wear and damage. When maintained properly, a homemade barbecue can bring years of pleasure for outdoor entertaining and family get-togethers.

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